A passionate and growth-driven executive, Chantal Charbel is an accomplished international leader with over 20 years of experience in the FMCG industry, with a focus on food and dairy across Europe and the MENA region. Currently Managing Director of Lactalis Middle East, she is responsible for strategic leadership, full P&L ownership, and business acceleration across multi-channel operations (Retail, Foodservice, E-commerce) and various business models, including subsidiaries, joint ventures, and distributors.
Chantal has successfully led major mergers and acquisitions in the region, including the integration of Hanilor (Lebanon’s main dairy player) and global brands such as Kraft, Leerdamer, and Stonyfield. She has driven the setup and adaptation of local production lines in the GCC to meet regional demand and regulatory requirements, while fostering close collaboration with Lactalis Group factories worldwide.
Her leadership is marked by impactful go-to-market strategies, distributor transformation, trade investment optimization, and sustained innovation across all major dairy categories. She maintains strong relationships with key clients, government authorities, and international tender stakeholders, continuously contributing to market share growth and profitability.
Before joining Lactalis, Chantal held executive roles at Khalil Fattal & Fils, a leading MENA distributor, where she led major strategic business units across Food & Beverage, Confectionery, Cosmetics, and Luxury, managing portfolios of top-tier brands including Danone, Mondelez, Kraft Heinz, Unilever, L’Oréal, and Hermès.
She is a Board Member of Lactalis Lebanon and part of the Lactalis International COMEX, known for her ability to lead diverse teams, drive transformation, and mentor future leaders.
Core Competencies:
- Strategic Leadership & Full P&L Responsibility
- Multichannel & Multimarket Business Development
- M&A and Business Integration
- Industrial Development & Local Manufacturing
- Distributor Management & Route-to-Market Excellence
- People Development, Talent Acquisition & Coaching
Languages:
French (Native) | Arabic (Native) | English (Fluent) | Italian (Basic)
Education:
- MBA in Business Administration – Saint Joseph University, Beirut
- Executive Leadership Program (2010)
- Executive Master in Consulting & Coaching for Change (Ongoing)
- « Climbe » Leadership Program (2018–2019)
- Harvard Business School Alumni
Interests:
Women in business, coaching & mentorship, youth empowerment, education access, yoga, piano, reading, and global travel.